and will remain, to after ages, a monument of the enlightened liberality of the magistracy of the county and city of Gloucester. The building is constructed wholly with Bath and Leckhampton stone. It is 82 feet in front next the Westgate street, and extends backwards 300 feet, having another entrance from Bareland. The front, which is copied from an ancient temple on the Illyssus (vide Stewart's Athenæ), is remarkably elegant and classically correct. The portico in centre, fronting the street, is supported by four columns of the Ionic order, 32 feet high, the approach to which and to the two side doors is by a flight of steps extending the whole width of the building. The centre door opens into the main entrance for the public, 100 feet long, 16 wide, and 18 high, having the grand jury room for the county and city on the right, the offices for the clerk of the peace, clerk of the indictments, and apartments for the hall-keeper, on the left. Facing the extreme end of this avenue is a magnificent stone staircase, on the first landing-place of which are two doors leading to the gallery of the crown court, and from thence the stairs are continued on both sides to the next flight, where the entrances are to the great room used for concerts and balls at the music meetings, and for other purposes, the dimensions of which are 87 feet by 53, and 50 feet high. At the south end, against the wall, are the royal arms, and over the doors a fine bas relief, nearly 40 feet long, representing the signature of magna charta by King John. Both the courts are of semicircular form, 76 feet wide by 38 in depth, and each having a gallery capable of containing 400 persons. The object of the architect, in the disposition of the courts, has evidently been to bring the judge, the magistrates, the jury, the prisoner, and the witness, into the most convenient space for the purpose of hearing. Both the courts are surrounded by spacious corridors, and the whole of the interior is so arranged as to

afford every description of persons attending on business an allotted situation. These courts were first made use of at the summer assizes (Aug. 26th, 1816,) and Mr. Justice Abbott, in his charge to the grand jury, made the following observations :-" I have the highest pleasure in offering my congratulations to you on the completion of the very handsome and convenient courts wherein we are now assembled. A building has been erected, containing ample and handsome courts, and convenient apartments for every class of persons engaged in the business of an assize, and this in a style manly and pure, suitable to the dignity that always ought to surround the administration of justice, and devoid of all that superfluous decoration by which, in some places, the expence of edifices intended for the same purpose has been greatly increased. The accommodation of those persons whose convenience was to be provided for, and the interest of those who were to defray the expence, appear to have been equally consulted. Nothing requisite has been omitted, and nothing unnecessary has been introduced."

THE TOLSEY

Is a handsome brick building, ornamented with stone, having the arms of the city beautifully carved in a triangular pediment. Below it the lobby, and a court of justice, where the Quarter Sessions were formerly held, but have lately been transferred to the Shire-Hall, and above, the Council Chamber.-In it are beautiful full-length paintings of the late Duke of Norfolk, who was High Steward, and one of the Aldermen of the city; and of his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, who has honoured the Corporation with a portrait of himself, finely executed by Sir William Beachey. The Tolsey

stands on the site of the ancient forum, or capitol, and though no remains exist, the appropriation of such a spot to forensic purposes is sufficient.

THE WORKHOUSE,

Or House of Industry:-Timothy Nourse, Esq. was the founder of this charity, to which, besides a subscription, he gave £100 per annum for its support. Sir John Powell, knt., one of the Judges of the Court of King's Bench, was the first The officers consist of a governor, deputy gogovernor. These are

vernor, a treasurer, and six special assistants. chosen annually out of the guardians returned for the different parishes. The governor and guardians of the Workhouse also superintend the lighting of the city, and have a common seal,

THE CITY GAOL

Was built in 1782, on a scale not sufficiently large for the number of prisoners; nor were their cells adapted to solitude and separation. It has recently been much enlarged and improved; to which a chapel has been added, where divine service is performed by a chaplain appointed by the Corporation of this city for that purpose. Adjoining to this prison has lately been erected a place of confinement, called the Lockup-House; where vagrants and other disturbers of the peace are kept under the custody of the Beadle.

THE COUNTY GAOL,

Though not strictly connected with the history of the city, as being in the county, deserves to be mentioned, both on account of the magnitude of its scale, and the important ends

it is intended to promote, which are the reformation and recovery of the offender, by solitary confinement and labour, rather than punishment, by cutting him off from society. The building (with four prisons in the county, of much smaller dimensions, cost £34,873. 14s. 4d.) is erected upon the plan of the great Howard, and, under the direction of Sir Onesiphorus Paul, Bart., is well calculated for the purpose of punishment, reflection, and reformation. It contains 203 separate cells; 164 for sleep, and 39 for work. It is considered a perfect model of its kind. A very handsome edifice has lately been erected for the confinement of debtors, from the design of Mr. Collingwood, an eminent architect of this city, which reflects great credit on that gentleman's professional talents. The Rev. Mr. Cooper is the present chaplain; J. P. Wilton, Esq. surgeon; and Thos. Cunningham, Esq. governor. The last-mentioned gentleman has filled that office ever since the year 1792; during the whole of which time he has discharged the very arduous duties of that situation in such an exemplary manner, as to merit the most unqualified approbation of the magistrates of the county of Gloucester, as well as of the country at large.

THE BANKS.

The Governor and Company of the Bank of England have lately established a Branch Bank in this city. But this measure was certainly unnecessary and uncalled for, as there are two banks here of great respectability; both of which have withstood the late fiery ordeal with undiminished reputation; and, during the whole of the late eventful period up to the present time, have, with great humanity and kindness, accommodated their respective friends with pecuniary assistance,

and are, on that account, entitled to the most grateful acknowledgments of the public-they, therefore, ought to have the support of that public. One of them is, with the exception of Child's, the oldest private bank in England, having been established by James Wood, Esq., the grandfather of the present proprietor, in the year 1716. The present James Wood, Esq., whose name is of so much celebrity, as to be known in almost every part of Great Britain, is, perhaps, possessed of more wealth than any commoner in his Majesty's dominions.*

PERMANENT LIBRARY.

This Institution commenced the 1st January, 1818. The members consist of two classes, Proprietors and Subscribers. A payment of six guineas, and an annual subscription of £1.5s. constitute the former; the annual subscription of £1. 5s. the latter. The President is chosen annually, but no person can be eligible two years in succession. The President for the present year is Dr. Shute. There is also a Treasurer and a Committee, which consists of fifteen proprietors, that are elected annually at the general meeting, five

* From the Supplement of The Gentleman's Magazine, for 1808. "The Woods are of antiquity more than ordinary, and have been known in north Britain upwards of one thousand years. They have had the honour of Baronetage thrice conferred upon their representatives. One is extinct; the other two are vested in the persons of Sir Francis Wood, of Bowling Hall, Yorkshire, and Sir Mark, of Gatton, county of Surrey and Monmouthshire; besides a fourth shortly to be made in the person of James Wood, Esq. Merchant and Banker in Gloucester. Sir Mark is, I am informed by him, entitled to bear supporters to his arms, in consequence of Sir A. Wood, of Langs, Fifeshire, having had them granted to him by James the First of Scotland. I know that his arms are neither those of the Woods of Gloucestershire nor South Wales."